Hershey Track Meet set for May 27

The city of Kissimmee is partnering with the city of St. Cloud to host the 20th Annual Hershey Track Meet on Thursday, May 27, at the Gateway High School track in Kissimmee.

This free track and field meet is geared toward children between the ages of 9 and 14. Registration will be accepted on May 27, from 5 to 5:45 p.m. No registrations will be accepted after that time. Competition begins at 6 p.m.

The track and field event offers youngsters an opportunity to compete in middle distance runs, dashes, relays and field events for advancement to the state tournament. The top contender in each age group will advance to the state meet, which will be in Miami Saturday, June 19.

The Hershey Track and Field Games is endorsed by the National Recreation and Park Association, USATrack & Field and Athletics Canada. It has been solely funded by the Hershey Company since 1978.

For more information, contact the Kissimmee Parks and Recreation Department at 407-518-2504.

Real estate showcase canceled

The Kissimmee Main Street Commercial Real Estate Showcase & Forum, which was scheduled for Thursday, will be rescheduled due to low attendance.

If you have already registered, you will receive a refund.

Sponsors for the program apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you have any questions, call Shirley at 407-186-7368 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

City partners with Gables Residential for park cleanup

The city of Kissimmee Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Gables Residential to clean up Denn John Park. The volunteer opportunity will be Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gables has committed 75 to 80 of its employees to conduct a community work day in Kissimmee. Additionally, the company will cover all material and supplies for the project.

This volunteer effort is part of National Gables Day. The importance of community service to its corporate mission is the foundation of Gables’ signature associate event. Each year, Gables employees nationwide are given the day off, not to play, but to participate in National Gables Day.

“By giving back to the communities in which we live and operate, we feel as a company we have contributed to improving the quality of life for our many residents and neighbors,” Jennifer B. Antos, area vice president of North Florida Gables, said.

Each corporate and onsite office is closed for the day and all employees – from company executives to onsite associates – work together as a region on a community service project.

Service activities have ranged from assisting local charities with events to refurbishing community centers. In 2007, Gables Day was dedicated to renovating and restoring a firehouse, community center and several homes in a hurricane-impacted neighborhood of New Orleans.

For more information, contact Randy Fisher with the Kissimmee Athletics Division at 407-518-2347

Harmony developer and Harmony Institute donate school site

Osceola County School District officials recently announced that Harmony developer Birchwood Acres, the district and The Harmony Institute had worked out a deal to provide approximately 23 acres of land for a new middle school in the community.

The district would pay $1.8 million for the school site, but the money would go into escrow and would be used by Birchwood Acres to cover a portion of its costs to build a $2.85 million school access road, according to district officials.

Birchwood Acres, represented by James Lentz, previously donated land for Harmony High School and Harmony Community School.

In the current deal, Birchwood Acres and The Harmony Institute, headed by Martha Lentz, Jim Lentz’s wife, will fund all closing costs on the property and will construct a needed retention pond.

According to Suzanne D’Agresta, Osceola County School Board attorney, the deal will close in July, after which the district would lease the property back to The Harmony Institute so it could continue to use it as an outdoor classroom and to operate its Spirit Farm there until the district begins construction work.

School District saves $2 million

Osceola County School District officials announced at the April 20 School Board meeting that the district saved approximately $2 million for the 2010-11 fiscal year by contracting with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services instead of renewing with the Florida School Boards Insurance Trust, or FISBIT, for property and casualty insurance.

School officials said half of the savings would go into the district’s general fund, and half into the capital fund. FISBIT is a self-insurance trust with which the district had been participating.

Last year, the district paid $5.318 million to FISBIT for insurance coverage.

Judge Legendre Day

Osceola County has recognizing recently-retired Circuit Court Judge Ron Legendre with with a proclamation making Friday, May 14, Judge Ronald A. Legendre Day.

The special ceremony for the day will be at 2 p.m. at the Osceola County Courthouse in the jury assembly room.

Legendre extends an invitation to anyone in the community who would like to attend.